Limiting-Competition-under-SAT_Redacted.pdf

Control Number: 12469761

Version July 2023

Application-Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) source code. This specific capability is required to conduct Independent Verification and Validation (IV&V) to close code and functional coverage and expose defects. Questa One uniquely allows verification engineers to quickly deploy IEEE 1800.2 test benches the verification framework solution that serves as the gold standard across the industry (e.g., Intel, Nvidia, Broadcom).

The Questa One simulator allows full device visibility of all signals, formal mathematical support of SystemVerilog assertions, real-time code and functional coverage metrics, and test plan overlays to cross-trace and verify device requirements. This comprehensive analysis unlocks the ability to perform an exhaustive audit of the FPGA/ASIC source code. This ensures the FPGAs meet objective requirements and are defect-free, which is critical to preventing product failures in the field that could lead to loss of life. Procuring an alternative software brand would break compatibility with the established IEEE 1800.2 technical baselines, forcing the Government to rebuild existing test environments, re-validate previously verified source code, and incur significant duplication of costs and unacceptable schedule delays to the TAGM mission.

b. During market research, the Government evaluated alternative software suites, specifically Synopsys VCS and Cadence Xcelium, against the technical requirements of the Tactical Aviation and Ground Munitions (TAGM) project, but none were capable of meeting the mission's unique safety-critical verification needs without unacceptable duplication of cost and delay. While Synopsys VCS and Cadence Xcelium are capable verification tools, introducing them into the current environment would break compatibility with the project's established IEEE 1800.2 test benches. Furthermore, migrating to an alternative environment disrupts the seamless integration required for the formal mathematical support of SystemVerilog assertions and the real-time code and functional coverage metrics currently utilized by the TAGM team. Ultimately, Questa One is the only software simulator that seamlessly preserves the established technical baselines while providing full device visibility of all signals and test plan overlays to cross-trace requirements, making it the sole brand capable of satisfying the Government's requirement to ensure the product is defect-free and does not fail in the field.

c. Without the procurement of these Questa One software licenses, the Tactical Aviation and Ground Munitions (TAGM) project team will be unable to run the mandatory dynamic analysis simulations, safety-critical testing, and Independent Verification and Validation (IV&V) efforts required to meet Army regulations, resulting in a complete failure to complete the mission. Allowing these licenses to lapse or failing to acquire them would halt critical safety verifications on Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) and Application-Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) source code, effectively delaying the deployment of safety-significant system upgrades and risking the introduction of defects that could lead to loss of life in the field. Furthermore, the cost of replacing Questa One with an alternative commercial product including the extensive technical evaluations, rebuilding established IEEE 1800.2 test benches, and retraining engineering personnel would introduce excessive, duplicative costs and severe schedule delays that are highly detrimental and not in the best interest of the Government.

6. Publicizing Contract Actions: For FAR Part 13 actions, the public display and synopsis requirements of FAR 5.101 and FAR 5.203 do not apply due to the $ threshold, apply and will be followed, or do not apply due to an exception at 5.202(a)(6)

Requirement to post justification in accordance with FAR 8.405-6(b)(3), FAR 13.105(c), or FAR 16.505(a)(4)(iii)(A) as follows:

X Action is a brand name restriction, over $25K but less that simplified acquisition threshold. It will be redacted and posted with the Request for Quote/Solicitation.

Exceptions to posting:

Action is NOT a brand name restriction and is under $150K, Action is a brand name restriction, under $25K.

Action is a brand name restriction over $25K but will not be posted due to exception:

FAR 6.305(f) FAR 8.405-6(b)(3)(A) FAR 8.405-6(b)(3)(B) FAR 8.405-6(b)(3)(C) FAR 16.505(a)(4)(iii(C)

7. Market Research: To initiate market research, the Government contacted James Delacruz at Siemens Industry Software Inc., Following receipt of this manufacturer pricing, the Government conducted required searches of mandatory-use government contract vehicles. Existing Enterprise License Agreements (ELA) and the Department of War (DoW) Enterprise Software Initiative (ESI) were researched for the required Questa One software licenses, which yielded no results. Subsequently, Request for Information (RFI) was submitted to the Computer Hardware Enterprise Software and Solutions (CHESS) Information Technology Enterprise Solutions Software 2 (ITES-SW2) program to determine if the software could be procured through existing Army contracts. The CHESS RFI yielded no results, and CHESS Statement of Non-Availability (SoNA) #

, clearing the project to proceed with an open-market, brand-name procurement.

8. Technical/Requirements Certification: I certify that the supporting data under my cognizance which are included in the justification are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

10. Contracting Officer Certification/Approval: I hereby determine that the anticipated cost or price to the Government for this contract action will be fair and reasonable based upon competitive pricing to determine lowest price technically acceptable.

I certify that this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief, and that completing this purchase as a brand name is in the best interest of the Government. Additionally, I approve this justification to limit competition subject to the availability of funds and provided that the services or supplies herein described have otherwise been authorized for acquisition.